Animal Industry Report Animal Industry Report

AS 661 ASL R2948

2015

Efficacy of the 5 Day CO-Synch Estrous Synchronization Protocol

with or without the Inclusion of a Controlled Internal Drug Release
Device in Beef Cows
Patrick J. Gunn
Iowa State University, pgunn@iastate.edu

Ron Lemenager
Purdue University

Allen Bridges
University of Minnesota

Follow this and additional works at: https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/ans_air

Part of the Agriculture Commons, and the Animal Sciences Commons

Recommended Citation
Gunn, Patrick J.; Lemenager, Ron; and Bridges, Allen (2015) "Efficacy of the 5 Day CO-Synch Estrous
Synchronization Protocol with or without the Inclusion of a Controlled Internal Drug Release Device in
Beef Cows," Animal Industry Report: AS 661, ASL R2948.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.31274/ans_air-180814-1270
Available at: https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/ans_air/vol661/iss1/11

This Beef is brought to you for free and open access by the Animal Science Research Reports at Iowa State University
Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Animal Industry Report by an authorized editor of Iowa State
University Digital Repository. For more information, please contact digirep@iastate.edu.
 Iowa State University Animal Industry Report 2015
Efficacy of the 5 Day CO-Synch Estrous Synchronization
Protocol with or without the Inclusion of a Controlled Internal
Drug Release Device in Beef Cows
A.S. Leaflet R2948
Patrick Gunn, Assistant Professor,
Department of Animal Science, Iowa State University;
Ron Lemenager, Professor,
Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University;
Allen Bridges, Assistant Professor,
North Central Research and Outreach Center, University of
Minnesota
Summary and Implications
To increase utilization of artificial insemination by beef
producers, estrous and ovulation synchronization protocols
must be re-evaluated in an attempt to reduce labor, cost,
number of handlings, or a combination thereof without
negatively impacting pregnancy rates. One potential way to
reduce cost in these systems is through the strategic removal
of hormones, such as the controlled internal drug release
device (CIDR), from the protocol. While this concept has
been tested in a 7 day synchronization protocol, it has not
been evaluated in the newer 5 day synchronization
protocols. The objective of this study was to compare TAI
and overall breeding season pregnancy rates in primiparous
and multiparous cows synchronized with the 5 d CO-Synch
protocol with or without the inclusion of a CIDR. We
hypothesized that use of a CIDR would improve timed-
artificial insemination (TAI) and overall breeding season
pregnancy rates. Results from this study indicate that while
overall breeding season pregnancy rates are not impacted by
removal of a CIDR in a 5 d CO-Synch protocol (90.3%; P =
0.94), TAI conception rates are improved when a CIDR
insert is utilized (62.3 vs. 50.7%; P < 0.001). Based on
these data, use of a CIDR in the 5 d CO-Synch program is
still recommended to optimize pregnancy success in an AI
management system.
Introduction
The 5 d CO-Synch + CIDR estrous synchronization
protocol has been demonstrated to be an effective TAI
protocol, and furthermore has resulted in greater TAI
pregnancy rates than the 7 d CO-Synch + CIDR protocol in
some studies. However, the additional recommended dose
of PGF2α (PGF) at CIDR insert removal as well as the cost
associated with the use of CIDR inserts may limit adoption
of 5 d program by producers.
Previous research has demonstrated that when using the
7 d CO-Synch protocol, inclusion of a CIDR increases TAI
pregnancy rates by preventing the premature expression of
estrus before PGF delivery and TAI. However, given the 2
d shorter duration between GnRH and PGF in the 5 versus
the 7 d CO-Synch protocols, the incidence of premature
estrus expression before TAI in the 5 d CO-Synch protocol
may be less than previously observed with the 7 d CO-
Synch protocol. However, failing to provide an exogenous
progestin source to stimulate the resumption of estrous
cycles in some females may result in reduced TAI
pregnancy rates in primiparous, thin, or short postpartum
cows that are more likely to be anestrus at the initiation of
synchronization. Thus, the objective of this study was to
compare TAI and overall breeding season pregnancy rates
in primiparous and multiparous cows synchronized with the
5 d CO-Synch protocol with or without the inclusion of a
CIDR. We hypothesized that use of a CIDR would improve
timed-artificial insemination (TAI) and overall breeding
season pregnancy rates.
Materials and Methods
The experiment was conducted in 879 cows over 2
years, and at 3 locations with a total of 5 replications. Cows
were blocked by breed and parity (primiparous or
multiparous) and stratified by days postpartum within block.
Cows were then randomly assigned within strata to either
the CIDR (n = 445) or NoCIDR (n = 438) treatment. Blood
samples were collected to determine estrous cyclicity status
at 11 (reps 4 and 5) or 7 (reps 1-3) days prior to, and at
ovulation synchronization initiation. Cows were determined
to be cyclic if either or both blood samples contained
circulating progesterone concentrations > 1 ng/mL.
Figure 1. Experimental Design
Blood GnRH +
PGF2α x 2
GnRH +
Sample Blood Sample Timed-AI
± CIDR
-11 to -7 0 5 8
Day relative to initiation of estrous synchronization protocol
The experimental design is illustrated in Figure 1.
Specifically, on d 0 all cows received GnRH (100 µg;
Cystorelin®, Merial, Duluth, GA) and cows in the CIDR
treatment received a CIDR (CIDR®, Pfizer Animal Health,
New York, NY). On d 5, CIDR inserts were removed from
the CIDR treatment and all cows received 2 separate doses
of PGF2α (25 mg/dose; Lutalyse®, Zoetis Animal Health,
New York, NY) between 2 and 10 h apart. Cows were TAI
 Iowa State University Animal Industry Report 2015

72 h after CIDR removal (d 8), concurrent with GnRH (100
µg; Cystorelin®).
Timed-AI and breeding season pregnancy rates were
determined via ultrasonography 32 to 38 d after TAI and
end of the breeding season, respectively. Data were
analyzed with the GLIMMIX procedure of SAS for
binomial distribution.
Results and Discussion
Timed-AI (TAI) pregnancy rate was greater in the
CIDR treatment (P = 0.0001; Table 1) and a similar pattern
was noted across all replications (Figure 2). However, there
was no effect of days postpartum on TAI pregnancy rates,
and there was no interaction between postpartum interval
and treatment relative to TAI pregnancy rates (P = 0.55).
This may be due to the high proportion of cyclic cows
enrolled in the study (87.1%, data not shown).
Although CIDR improved pregnancy rate to TAI in
both primi- and multiparous cows, a treatment * parity
interaction was observed (P = 0.08; Figure 3). The
magnitude of improvement due to CIDR treatment was
greater in primiparous than multiparous females. It was
assumed initially that this interaction may be the result of
more anestrous cows in the primiparous group, however,
88.9% of primiparous females were cycling at the onset of
estrous synchronization. Also unexpectedly, there was no
treatment by reproductive status effect on TAI pregnancy
rates (P = 0.14; Figure 4), which again is likely due to the
limited number of anestrous cows in the study.
Although breeding season pregnancy rate did not differ
due to treatment (P = 0.94), a greater proportion of
multiparous females became pregnant during the breeding
season than primiparous females (P = 0.04); however, the
cause of this is not clear.
In conclusion, these data indicate that TAI conception
rates are improved when a CIDR insert is utilized in the 5 d
CO-Synch protocol.

Figure 2. Effect of the 5 day CO-Synch + CIDR (C) or 5 day CO-Synch (NC) protocols on timed-AI pregnancy rates
in suckled beef cows (P < 0.001).

Figure 3. Treatment × parity interaction (P = 0.08) for timed artificial insemination pregnancy rates in beef cows that
had ovulation synchronized using the 5 day CO-Synch + CIDR (C) or 5 day CO-Synch (NC) protocols. Across
parity, bars lacking a common superscript differ (P ≤ 0.05).
 Iowa State University Animal Industry Report 2015

Table 1. Timed artificial insemination, overall breeding season pregnancy rates and resorption rates in beef
cows synchronized for ovulation with a 5 day CO-Synch protocol with or without the inclusion of a CIDR.
Treatment1
Item CIDR NoCIDR Combined P-Value2
3
% (no./no.)
Timed-AI pregnancy rate
Treatment 62.3 (276/443)a 50.7 (221/436)b 56.5 (497/879) 0.0001

Parity4 0.37
Primiparous 69.0 (60/87)a 46.3 (37/80)b 58.1 (97/157)
Multiparous 60.7 (216/356)a 51.7 (184/356)b 56.2 (400/712)

Reproductive status5 0.76

Cyclic 63.5 (241/380)a 49.7 (187/377)b 56.5 (428/757)
Anestrous 55.4 (31/56) 57.4 (32/56) 56.3 (63/112)

Breeding season pregnancy rate

Treatment 90.5 (402/444) 89.9 (393/437) 90.2 (795/881) 0.94

Parity 0.004
Primiparous 83.9 (73/87) 83.8 (67/80) 83.8 (140/167)y
Multiparous 92.2 (329/357) 91.3 (326/357) 91.7 (655/714)z

Reproductive status 0.14

Cyclic 91.0 (345/379) 90.5 (341/377) 90.7 (686/756)
Anestrous 85.7 (48/56) 89.1 (49/55) 87.4 (97/111)

Resorption rate6
Treatment 2.5 (7/276) 3.2 (7/221) 2.8 (14/497) 0.68

Parity 0.79
Primiparous 3.3 (2/60) 2.7 (1/37) 3.1 (3/97)
Multiparous 2.3 (5/216) 3.3 (6/184) 2.8 (11/400)

Reproductive status 0.52

Cyclic 2.9 (7/241) 3.2 (6/187) 3.0 (13/428)
Anestrous 0 (0/31) 3.2 (1/31) 1.6 (1/62)
1
5 d CO-Synch ovulation synchronization protocol with (CIDR) or without (NoCIDR) inclusion of a CIDR.
2
Main effects of treatment, parity, reproductive status.
3
Results are presented as the proportion of cows pregnant within treatment and classification. The number of cows
pregnant divided by the number of cows in which pregnancy status was determined is presented in parentheses.
4
A treatment × parity interaction was observed (P = 0.08; Figure 2).
5
There was no treatment × reproductive status interaction (P = 0.14).
6
Of cows diagnosed at pregnant to timed-AI at initial pregnancy detection, the proportion of cows that were
diagnosed as open or not pregnant to timed-AI at final pregnancy detection.
a,b
Within row, means lacking a common superscript differ due to treatment (P ≤ 0.05).
y,z
Within column, means lacking a common superscript differ (P ≤ 0.05).